Bottom-hole shut-in tool



O United States Patent [1113,542,126

[72] lnventor Arthur L. Owen 2,690,225 9/1954 Baker et a1 166/129 Houston, Texas 3,032,111 5/1962 Corley et al. 166/65 [2]] Appl. No, 772,177 3,196,948 7/1965 Dye 166/65 [22] Filed 0et.3l, 1968 3,416,608 12/1968 Crow et a1. 166/129 [45] Patented Nov. 24, 1970 3,426,846 2/1969 Young 166/129 [73] Assignee Electric Wireline Specialties, Inc., Primary ExaminepJames A. Leppink Alice AttorneyCarlos A. Torres a corporation of Texas [54] 513:: 1N TOOL ABSTRACT: A tool'having a central mandrel movable axially B within an outer body for expanding metal friction locks and an [52] US. Cl. 166/65, elasmmeric packer to anchor the too] and form a pressure seal l66/129 within a surrounding well conduit. Anchoring and release is [51] IIILCI. .1 E2lb 43/00, assisted by a fl id bypass f d across the packet which is 5 33/12 gradually closed or opened by the moving mandrel as the tool ofSelrch H 166/65. is set or released A slack joint in the outer accom. [56] References cited modates small movements of the mandrel when the tool is anchored to prevent inadvertent release and an insulated elec- UNITED STATES PATENTS trical conductor extends axially through the bar to energize 2,253,092 8/1941 Pranger 166/65 and monitor a transducer secured below the seal.

1 1111.44 mm ll Arthur L. Owen IN VE N TOR A TTORNEY FIG. 28

Calm; k. TM/Lw M II an S Sheet Patented :Nv. 24, 1970 Sheet FIG. 5

Arthur L. Owen- INVEN TOR H Ila ATTORNEY The shut-in tool includes metal slips 11 which are expanded radially when the tool is set to grip the interior wall of the conduit C and anchor the tool in place. As will hereinafter be described in greater detail, the setting procedure also foreshortens an elastomeric packer 12 causing it to expand radially and bear against the conduit C to create a pressure seal.

The tool 10 is initially lowered. into the conduit C with the slips 11 and packer 12 retracted. When a desired testing depth is reached, as for example above perforations C which open into the formation, the setting tool S is energized to expand the slips and packer. The transducer T is then switched into the wire line circuit to transmit its output to a surface monitoring station. Setting of the tool 10, as illustratedin FIG. 1, seals the area A below the packer 12 from the area B above the packer, and the condition of the formation may be tested without regard to the effects of after flow.

The structure of the tool 10 is best illustrated in FIGS. 2A and 28, where it is seen to include an adapter fitting 16 secured to the slips 11, and a tapered, cylindrical cone member 14 secured to a cylindrical body member 13 which extends from the slips 11 to the packer 12. A segmented center mandrel 15 extends coaxially through the members 16, 11, 14, 13, and 12, and is employed to set and release the tool as well as to provide an insulated electrical pathway between the wire line L and the transducer T. The tool 10 is secured to the setting tool S by means of the adapter fitting 16 with the mandrel 15 extending upwardly through the fitting 16 and connecting to the movable portion of the setting tool S.

With reference jointly to FIGS. 2A and 5, the fitting 16 includes a partially threaded upper portion 16' which is slidably received in the lower socket S of the setting tool and a lower member 16" which is threadedly engaged with the slips 11. In attaching the tool 10 to the setting tool S, the threads on the portion 16' are advanced past the threads in the socket S to form a slack-joint indicated generally at 17 which permits limited axial movement of the fitting 16 within the socket S.

As will hereinafter bernore fully explained, the slack-joint 17 prevents inadvertent release of the tool 10 when a high pressure differential exists across the-packer 12.

Referring to FIGS. 2A, 2B, 3 and 4, the central mandrel 15 is composed of a series of threadedly engaged segments 15a, 15b, and 15c. Each segment includes an electrical conductor 18a, 18b, and 180 respectively disposed within a protective insulating covering 19a, 19b and 190 respectively. The conductors 18b and 180 have a solid cross section while the conductor 18a has a tubular form which is adapted to receive a stationary solid conductor S extending from the setting tool S. As more fully described in said application Ser. No. 764,763, the conductors 18a and'S" cooperate to maintain'continuous, sliding electrical contact between the conductors in the tool 10 and the conducting path in the setting tool as the mandrel 15 is moved axially during the setting and release motions. For the purposes of the present invention, however, any suitable means for maintaining electrical contact between the movable mandrel 15 and the setting tool S may be employed.

As illustrated in FIGS. 2A and 2B, the mandrel sections 15a and 15b are threadedly engaged with an Owing 20a of resilient material such as rubber or other suitable material disposed between the two sections to provide a leakproof seal. Electrical contact between the conductors 18a and 18b carried in the 7 two adjoining mandrel sections is made by means of a separable connecter 21a. Similarly, the sections 15b and 150 are threadedly engaged with two O-rings 20b and 200 disposed between the two sections with a second separable connecter 21b providing electrical contact between the conductors 18b and 18c.

The lower end of the mandrel section 15c threadedly engages a backup connecter fitting 22 with a single O-ring 20d disposed between the two members The electrical circuit between the conductor 18c and the circuitry of the transducer T is completed by means of a third separable connecter 210 provided at the lower end of the mandrel section 150. The

connecter 21c includes an outer insulating body 21c which is disposed in'a central bore formed in the fitting 22. A counter sunk set screw 210" extends through the body 210' to retain the metal receptacle portion of the connecter in place.

The transducing instrument T is mechanically secured 'to the tool 10 by means of threads 22a formed at the lower end of the fitting 22. An O-ring (not illustrated) similar to those employed at the joints of the mandrel sections is also employed to provide a leakproof joint between the transducer T and the fitting 22. Electrical connection is completed by inserting a suitable male connecter element from the transducer T into the lower metal receptacle provided in the connecter 210.

As illustrated in FIG. 2B, the packer 12 is disposed between an upper bearing member 23 and a lower bearing member 24.

.The bearing'mem'ber 23 is threadedly engaged at one of its ends to the body member 13 and its lower end is provided with a concave surface 23:: which is adapted to bear against a convexend surface 12a on the packer 12. The upper end ofthe bearing 'rnember24' is also provided with a concave surface 240 which is adapted tobear against a lower convex end surface 12b on the packer 12. The lower end of the member 24 is provided with a convex surface which is seated in a concave surface formed at the upper end of the fitting 22. The packer 12 is disposed over a sleeve 25 which extends from the inter.- nal bore of the cone member 14 to a socket formed in the member 24. The sleeve 25 is free to move axially with respect to the member 24 with the lower end surface of the sleeve being adapted to bear against an internal shoulder 24b formed in the socket of the bearing member 24.

ln setting the shut-in tool 10, the setting tool S holds the slip member 11 stationary while pulling the mandrel 15 upwardly. This upward movement is transmitted through the backup fitting 22 which in turn'forces the bearing member 24 upwardly to compress the packer 12. During the initial compresmember 14 is provided with a tapered, convex surface 14a which is adapted to slide under resilient metal fingers 1.1a formed on the slips 11. During the setting of the tool ll), the member 14 moves upwardly with respect to the slips 11 causing the surface 14a to bear against tapered internal surfaces 11b formed 'on each'of the slip fingers 114 which in turn expands the fingers radially outwardly. When sufficient radial expansion has occurred, teeth formed on the outer surface of the fingers 11a bear against the internal wall of the well conduit C to frictionally lock the tool 10 in position.

When the surface is tightly wedged under the slipfingers 11a, further upward movement of the cone member 14 is prevented and, thereafter, as illustrated in FIG. 6, continued upward movement of the mandrel 15 acts to further compress the packer 12 causing it to seal tightly against the internal wall of the conduit C.

As previously stated, the effects of differential pressure across the packer 12 which would normally tend-to dislodge the tool from its set position are compensated for by the slack joint 17. This feature of the shut-in tool 10 may best be the tool 10 is in the set position illustrated in FIG. 6, a sufliciently high pressure below the packer 12 will drive the center mandrel 15 upwardly by further compressing the packer 12. The mandrel will in turn exert a lifting force on the set tool S causing the slack joint '17 to open as illustrated in FIG. 5. The lost motion provided by the slack joint 17 thereby prevents the upward movement of the mandrel 15 from exerting a lifting force on the slip member 11. The operation of the slack joint 17 also acts to more securely anchor the tool 10 since the upward mandrel movement is also conveyed through the packer 12 to increase the force exerted by the tapered surface 14a against the slip fingers 11.

The effects of a pressure differential across the tool are also compensated for by 'meansof a closeable fluid bypass which is provided across the packer 12 to permit gradual pressure changes across the packer as it is set or released. As illustrated in FIGS. 2A and 6, the 'closeable fluid bypass includes radial bores 24c and 25a which extend through the bearing member 24 and sleeve 25 respectively. An annular space 26, formed between the sleeve 25 and the mandrel section 15, extends to a second set of radial bores 25b which are formed in the sleeve 25. The bypass continues through the space formed between the outer surface of the sleeve 25 and the inner surfaces of the body member 13' and bearing member 23 and is completed through radial bores 23b formed in the member 23.

Complete closure of the bypass is effected when the mandrel section 150 and sleeve 25 are drawn into the body member 13 as the tool is setrThus, with reference to FIG. 6, it is seen that when the tool 10 is set, the bypass around the packer 12 is closed by O-rings 27, 28 and 29. In both the set and unset positions of the tool'l0, the O-ring' 27 forms a continuous seal between the mandrel section c and the sleeve 25 while the O-ring 28 forms a continuous seal between the sleeve 25 and the body member 13. When the mandrel section 15c is pulled upwardly, the O-ring 29 is drawn into engagement with the reduced internal bore in the body member 13 to close the bypass and shut-in the well below the packer 12.

When retrieving the tool 10, the initial downward movement of the mandrel 15 opens the bypass without releasing the slips 11 and packer 12 which remain firmly secured against the conduit C. With the bypass open and the tool 10 set, gradual reduction of the pressure differential across the packer 12 is permitted to prevent the tool 10 from being blown up-hole. When the pressure differential has been sufficiently reduced, the tool 10 is disengaged from the conduit C I by moving the mandrel 15 downwardly permitting the packer l2 and slips 1] to return to their retracted positions.

It should be noted thatthe form of the invention illustrated in FIGS. 1-6 is intended primarily for use in those applica tions where the pressure below is greater than that above the packer 12. When the pressure above the packet 12 is greatest, I

the relative positions of the cone member 14 and slips 11 are reversed with the cone member 14 being disposed above the slips 11 to ensure firm anchoring against the well conduit.

While the invention has been thus far described with only a single packer l2, any number of packers may be employed. Thus, as illustrated in FIG. 7, a plurality of packers 112 may be spaced below the body member 113 along the body of the tool with each packer being disposed directly over the central mandrel 115 between bearing members 123 similar to the.

members 23. The members 123 are, in turn, engaged with external threads formed at each end of suitable tubular spacing members 113 similar to the body member 13. If a bypass is desired, the bottom packer 112 may be mounted over asleeve 125 in a manner similar to that illustrated in F IGS,-2B- and 6. It will be understood that the upper portion of the tool is similar to the first form of the invention illustrated in FIGS. l6.

The second form of the invention illustrated in FIG. 7 provides greater contact between the tool and the well conduit and thus effects a stronger seal. If the formation to be evaluated is one of several producing zones in the same well conduit, the shut-in tool illustrated in FIG. 7 may be employed as a straddle pack-off to'seal in the zone above and below the l. A bottom-hole shut-in tool assembly operable by a setting mechanism for sealing a well conduit ata subsurface location and monitoring well conditions within a sealed portion of the well comprising:

a. a tool body having first and second axially spaced ends;

b. anchoring means included between said first and second ends of said body for mechanically anchoring said body to the surrounding walls of the conduit;

c. sealingmeans included between said first and second ends of said body for forming a seal between said body and the well conduit; I

d. setting means included in said body and movable by the setting mechanism for moving said anchoring means and said sealing means into and out of engagement with the well conduit;

e. circuit means carried in said body for conveying electrical energy between said first and second ends of said body; and

f. transducing means connected with said circuit means for generating electrical signals representative of well conditions.

2. The shut-in tool as defined in claim 1 further including:

a. bypass means extending across said sealing means forpermitting pressure equalization across said sealing means while said sealing means is sealed against the well conduit; and

b. control means for opening and closing said bypass means while said sealing means is sealed'against the well conduit.

3. The shut-in tool as defined in claim 1 above further including lost motion means for permitting said setting means to be moved by differential well pressure across said packer without moving said anchoring means out of engagement with the well conduit. v

4. The shut-in tool as defined in claim 2 further including lost motion means for permitting said setting means to be moved by differential well pressure across said packer without moving said anchoring means out of engagementwith the well conduit.

5. The shut-intool as recited in claim 1 wherein:

a, said setting means includes a mandrel having first and second ends extending internally'between said first and second ends of said body; and

b. said circuit means includes one or more electrical conductors carried within and electrically insulated from said mandrel.

6. The shut-in tool as defined in claim 5 wh'ereinz' a. said mandrel includes a plurality of adjoining mandrel sections;

I b. each of said mandrel sections includes connecting means for mechanically securing said adjoining mandrel sections v a. said anchoring means includes a plurality ofmovable locking members having friction producing means on their external surfaces;

b. said anchoring means further includes axially movable spreader means for radially moving said locking members into engagement with theinternal surface of the well conduit; v I

c. said sealing means includes at least one radially expandable elastorneric packer member for engaging the internal surface of the well conduit; and

d. said setting means including means for axially moving said mandrel relative to said anchoring means, spreader means and elastomeric packer member;

8. The tool as defined in claim 7 further including:

'd. outlet means adjacent said first sleeve a. a bearing member secured to one end of said mandrel for axially moving said elastomeric member and spreader means when said mandrel is moved from said second toward said first end of said body; and

.b. attachment means on a said bearing memberfor mechanically and electrically securing electrical equipment to said tool. Y

9. The tool as defined in claim wherein:

a. said first end of said body includes lost motion means for mechanically connecting said body to the setting mechanism and providing limited axial movement of said body relative to the stationary portion of the setting mechanism;

b. said anchoring means includes slips having a plurality of slip fingers extending axially from a tubular base;

c. said anchoring means further includes an axially movable spreader means having a convex external surface for expanding said slip fingers radially;

d. said sealing means includes a tubular elastomeric packer;

e. said first end of said mandrel includes means .for.mechani-' cally and electrically securing said mandrel to the movable portion of the setting mechanism;

f. said second end of said mandrel includes a bearing member for limiting the axial movement of said packer and spreader ina direction from said first to said second end of said body;

g. said bearing member includes attachment means for mechanically and electrically securing electrical equipment to said tool; and

h. said mandrel 'is movable relative to said body whereby motion of said mandrel in a direction from said second to said first end of said body moves said bearing member toward said first end of said body and compresses and v radially expands said packer and moves said spreader axially to expand said slip fingers radially.

10, The tool as defined in claim 9 further including:

a. bypass means extending across said sealing means for permitting pressure equalization across said sealing means "while said sealing means is sealed against the well conduh; and

b. control means for opening and closing said bypass means while said sealing means is sealed against the well conduit.

11. The tool as defined in claim 10 wherein said bypass means includes:

a. a tubular sleeve having first and second axially spaced ends disposed between said packer and said mandrel;

b. an annular passage between said sleeve and said mandrel extending axially between said first and second sleeve ends;

c. inlet means adjacent said second sleeve end extending through said body and sleeve and into said annular passage; and l end extending through said body and sleeve and into said annular passage.

12. The tool as defined in claim 11 above wherein said control means includes;

a. first sealing means adjacent said first sleeve end for formmg a continuous seal between said mandreland said first 7 end of said sleeve;

b. second sealing means adjacent said first sleeve end for forming a continuous seal between said sleeve and said body; and 1 c. third sealing means axially disposed between said first and second sealing means for forming a seal between said sleeve and said body to close said outlet means when said I). control means for opening andclosing said bypass means while said sealing'meansis sealed'against the warm. duit.

14. The tool as defined in claim 5 further including lost motion means for permitting said setting means to be moved by differential well pressure across'said packer without moving said anchoring means out of engagement-with the well conduit.

15. The tool as defined in claim 13 wherein:

-a. said mandrel includes a plurality of adjoining mandrel sections;

b. each of said mandrel sections includes connecting means for mechanically securing said adjoining mandrel sections to each other; and

c. each of said mandrel sections further includes a section of electrical conductor and a separable electrical connecter means at each end of adjoining ends of said mandrel sections for making electrical contact between said conductor sections in adjoining mandrel sections.

16. The tool as defined in claim 14 wherein:

a. said mandrel includes a plurality of adjoining mandrel sections;

b. each of said mandrel sections includes connecting means formechanically securing said adjoining mandrel sections to each other; and

c. each of said mandrel sections further includes a section of electrical conductor and a separable electrical connecter means at each end of adjoining ends of said mandrel sections for making electrical contact between said conductor sections in adjoining mandrel sections.

17. The tool as defined in claim 6 further including:

a. bypass means extending across said sealing means for permitting pressure equilization across said sealing means while said sealing means is sealed against the well conduit;

b. control means for opening and closing said bypass means while said sealing means is sealed against the well conduit; and v c. lost motion means for permitting said setting means to be moved by differential well pressure across said packer withoutmoving said anchoring means out of engagement with the well conduit.

18. The tool as defined in claim 17 wherein;

a. said lost motion means includes means for mechanically connecting said first end of said body to the setting mechanism and providing limited axial movement of said body relative to the stationary portion of the setting mechanism;

b. said anchoring means includes slips having a plurality of slip fingers extending axially froma tubular base;

c. said anchoring means further includes an axially movable spreader means having a convex external surface for exf. said second end of said mandrel includes a bearing member for limiting the axial movement of said packer and spreader in-a direction from said first to said second end of said body;

g. said bearing member includes attachment means for mechanically and electrically securing electrical equipment to said tool; and

h. said mandrel is movable relative to said body' whereby motion of said mandrel inadirection from said second to said first end of said body moves said bearing member toward said first end of said body and compresses and radially expands said packer and moves said spreader axially to expand said slip fingers radially.

19. The tool as defined in claim 17 wherein said bypass means includes:

a. a tubular sleeve having first and second axially spaced ends disposed between said packer and said mandrel;

a. first sealing means adjacent said first sleeve end for form-,

ing a continuous seal between said mandrel and said first end of said sleeve; I

b. second sealing means adjacent said first sleeve end for forming a continuous seal betweensaid sleeve and said body; and

c. third sealing means axially disposed between said first and second sealing means rKFrEman a seal between said sleeve and said body to close said outlet means when said mandrel is moved in a direction from said second toward said first body end.

21. Thetool as defined in claim 17 further including a plurality of axially spaced elastomeric packers carried between said first and second ends of said body.

221The tool as defined in claim l8 further including a plurality of axially spaced elastomeric packers carried between said first and second ends of said body.

23. The well tool assembly as defined in claim 1 further including monitoring means disposed above said sealing means and connected with said circuit means for providing an output signal representative of said well conditions contemporaneously with the generation of said electrical signals by said transducing means. 

